Growing a Garden in Loganville, Georgia

Whether you are a first time gardener or a veteran, the same rules apply in the basic techniques of gardening. Even before you consider what you wish to grow, you must first determine your climate zone. For instance, some vegetables only do well in the upper most region of Georgia while the middle or lower regions are suitable for different plants.

Loganville,Georgia is in Zone 7 and is considered middle south. Your zone is determined by the annual average temperature lows. Zone 7 has a climate average of 0 to 10 degrees.
Everyone knows Georgia is famous for growing delicious peaches, world famous Vidalia onions and the all time favorite, peanuts.

Farms all over Georgia have sustained a life style from harvesting a variety of vegetables for marketing. Some of these vegetables are tomatoes, peppers, radishes, carrots, beans, eggplant, cucumber,corn, potatoes, cauliflower, peas,okra, cabbage, turnips, and many more.

Once you've determined what will grow in the area, you must check your soil condition. Middle Georgia's zone is made up chiefly of clay soil.This texture is good for holding nutrients but does not allow much air flow and is slow to drain. A test on the soil can determine it's acidic content. You can at this point decide if amendments are needed. A good mulch or compost will benefit tremendously.

After your soil has been treated, you must determine the layout of your garden. For larger areas, planting in rows is advisable. This method will allow more space for seeds or plants but will also require extensive weeding.

If your space is limited a raised bed would be a good option.The soil is placed in mounds that make drainage better and allows easier access to your to your plants. Raised bed planting requires less weeding also.

Now that you've treated your soil it's time to select your seeds or plants. Choose a reputable garden center or local grower to make your purchases. Then follow the planting directions carefully. The survival of your crop depends a lot on correct depth and distance of planting.

It is advisable to choose vegetables that you like personally. Consider also the yield of each plant. Summer squash, for an example will continue to yield for several weeks and will need to be harvested every 3 to 4 days. This might be a good time to learn a few basics in home canning.

Not only is gardening a wonderful way to get exercise, it is also the perfect way to reduce your food bills. Home grown vegetables taste better than store purchased because of their freshness. They are healthier because
they are pesticide free.

It may be true that only God can make a tree, but if you are well prepared and determined, there is no reason why you cannot produce a delicious bounty in your own back yard. Happy Gardening!

References:

Author: Candus Poyner

www. growingavegetablegarden.net